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Topic: Hate name (Read 2651 times)

So here is the problem. My given name is Norse and most defiantly pagan and when I was chrismated I took the name Seraphim. I wish I could get folks at least at the church I am member of to use it but for what ever reason they stick to the old name. As a matter of fact I was visiting my daughter up in Virginia and at the church I went to up there, the priest asked me what my name was. I gave him my chrismation name and was promptly asked, no what is your real name. Annoying. He did this in front of all of the parishioners.

Norse pagan? There are orthodox priests with such western names as Elliot or Jefferson or whatever and even a GC bishop named Judson. I am sure that some consideration should be given going back to the Norse origins of Kiev-Rus.

So here is the problem. My given name is Norse and most defiantly pagan and when I was chrismated I took the name Seraphim. I wish I could get folks at least at the church I am member of to use it but for what ever reason they stick to the old name. As a matter of fact I was visiting my daughter up in Virginia and at the church I went to up there, the priest asked me what my name was. I gave him my chrismation name and was promptly asked, no what is your real name. Annoying. He did this in front of all of the parishioners.

Seraphim

if you really want people to call you by your chrismation name, legally change your name and no one can argue with you.

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"Hearing a nun's confession is like being stoned to death with popcorn." --Abp. Fulton Sheen

So here is the problem. My given name is Norse and most defiantly pagan and when I was chrismated I took the name Seraphim. I wish I could get folks at least at the church I am member of to use it but for what ever reason they stick to the old name.

Pagan names:

Theophilus

Justinian

Maximus

Olga

Demetrios

Apollos

etc.

If your god is too weak to sanctify a name, is he worthy of worship?

« Last Edit: October 28, 2012, 04:14:20 PM by NicholasMyra »

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Quote from: Orthonorm

if Christ does and says x. And someone else does and says not x and you are ever in doubt, follow Christ.

Norse pagan? There are orthodox priests with such western names as Elliot or Jefferson or whatever and even a GC bishop named Judson. I am sure that some consideration should be given going back to the Norse origins of Kiev-Rus.

Yes I can see your point but. From the Old Norse name Einarr, derived from the elements ein "one, alone" and arr "warrior". This name shares the same roots as einherjar, the word for the slain warriors in Valhalla.

So here is the problem. My given name is Norse and most defiantly pagan and when I was chrismated I took the name Seraphim. I wish I could get folks at least at the church I am member of to use it but for what ever reason they stick to the old name.

Lucifer Calaritanus (Italian: Lucifero da Cagliari) (d. May 20, 370 or 371) was a bishop of Cagliari in Sardinia known for his passionate opposition to Arianism. He is venerated as a Saint in Sardinia, though his status remains controversial.

« Last Edit: October 28, 2012, 07:12:39 PM by Fabio Leite »

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Many energies, three persons, two natures, one God, one Church, one Baptism.

Lucifer Calaritanus (Italian: Lucifero da Cagliari) (d. May 20, 370 or 371) was a bishop of Cagliari in Sardinia known for his passionate opposition to Arianism. He is venerated as a Saint in Sardinia, though his status remains controversial.

You learn something everyday.

What was up with that guy's parents, though?

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Apart from moral conduct, all that man thinks himself able to do in order to become acceptable to God is mere superstition and religious folly. - Immanuel Kant

If you will, you can become all flame.Extra caritatem nulla salus.In order to become whole, take the "I" out of "holiness". सर्वभूतहितἌνω σχῶμεν τὰς καρδίας"Those who say religion has nothing to do with politics do not know what religion is." -- Mohandas GandhiY dduw bo'r diolch.

Lucifer Calaritanus (Italian: Lucifero da Cagliari) (d. May 20, 370 or 371) was a bishop of Cagliari in Sardinia known for his passionate opposition to Arianism. He is venerated as a Saint in Sardinia, though his status remains controversial.

You learn something everyday.

What was up with that guy's parents, though?

It just means 'light bringer'. It's not necessarily got the satanic connotations in other languages that it does in English. For instance, in Romanian Luceafar is much more likely to be a reference to the morning star than it is to a demon.

James

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We owe greater gratitude to those who humble us, wrong us, and douse us with venom, than to those who nurse us with honour and sweet words, or feed us with tasty food and confections, for bile is the best medicine for our soul. - Elder Paisios of Mount Athos

FWIW, Photophoros and its Slavic equivalent do not exist as Orthodox Christian names. Can't be a coincidence.

To the best of my knowledge, nobody's ever baptised Luceafar in Romania either, but I was replying only to the effect that it may not have had the connotations to his parents that it has to English speakers. Assuming that the morning/evening star connotation in Romanian is a common Latin one (which seems reasonable) it's quite possible that it looked totally innocuous to bishop Lucifer's parents (and they could quite easily have been pagan anyway). In fact, it could conceivably have been seen as a very positive name - a secondary meaning in Romanian is as an epithet for a man with exceptional qualities (according to the DEX - I've never heard it used as such myself). Having said that, Lucifer (which is effectively the same name in a slightly different form) does refer to Satan in Romanian, I just think it's interesting that a positive connotation remains, at least in part, in at least one romance language.

James

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We owe greater gratitude to those who humble us, wrong us, and douse us with venom, than to those who nurse us with honour and sweet words, or feed us with tasty food and confections, for bile is the best medicine for our soul. - Elder Paisios of Mount Athos

FWIW, Photophoros and its Slavic equivalent do not exist as Orthodox Christian names. Can't be a coincidence.

Phosphoros would be the word in Greek and Danica in Slavic languages.

"Fósforo" is the Portuguese word for matches.

Does this mean everytime we light a match we burn a little demon's head?

Interestingly enough, a now obsolete and old fashioned English term for a match is a lucifer too.

James

« Last Edit: November 01, 2012, 07:39:47 AM by jmbejdl »

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We owe greater gratitude to those who humble us, wrong us, and douse us with venom, than to those who nurse us with honour and sweet words, or feed us with tasty food and confections, for bile is the best medicine for our soul. - Elder Paisios of Mount Athos

Norse pagan? There are orthodox priests with such western names as Elliot or Jefferson or whatever and even a GC bishop named Judson. I am sure that some consideration should be given going back to the Norse origins of Kiev-Rus.

Yes I can see your point but. From the Old Norse name Einarr, derived from the elements ein "one, alone" and arr "warrior". This name shares the same roots as einherjar, the word for the slain warriors in Valhalla.

Then it's your task to sanctify the name Einarr! Become a saint and someday people will take it as a Christian name.

Because, while many saints may have taken Christian names, frequently they are known by their secular names in the Church.

Tell the priest that you have abandoned your old, pagan name and wish to beknown by your Christian name. There should not be an issue---he is required to call you at Communion by your christian name. If there is a further problem discuss it with your bishop. I don't think it will get to that point. The importnat thing to rmember is that if you ever do make sainthood you will be called Saint (your pagan name) as that is how the church increases the saintly names of the church.

Tell the priest that you have abandoned your old, pagan name and wish to beknown by your Christian name. There should not be an issue---he is required to call you at Communion by your christian name. If there is a further problem discuss it with your bishop. I don't think it will get to that point. The importnat thing to rmember is that if you ever do make sainthood you will be called Saint (your pagan name) as that is how the church increases the saintly names of the church.

Thomas

Hi Thomas. My Parish priest and the deacon do use my Christian name. The issue was what happened while I was visiting at another church and my fellow parishioners being more comfortable with my old name<apparently> . In hindsight I guess it is not a big deal and at least it has provoked some thoughtful discussion here.

So here is the problem. My given name is Norse and most defiantly pagan and when I was chrismated I took the name Seraphim. I wish I could get folks at least at the church I am member of to use it but for what ever reason they stick to the old name. As a matter of fact I was visiting my daughter up in Virginia and at the church I went to up there, the priest asked me what my name was. I gave him my chrismation name and was promptly asked, no what is your real name. Annoying. He did this in front of all of the parishioners.

Seraphim

Why don't we go one better and copy the error I made. Secretly resent Jewish people who have "Christian" names like John

So here is the problem. My given name is Norse and most defiantly pagan and when I was chrismated I took the name Seraphim. I wish I could get folks at least at the church I am member of to use it but for what ever reason they stick to the old name. As a matter of fact I was visiting my daughter up in Virginia and at the church I went to up there, the priest asked me what my name was. I gave him my chrismation name and was promptly asked, no what is your real name. Annoying. He did this in front of all of the parishioners.

Seraphim

Why don't we go one better and copy the error I made. Secretly resent Jewish people who have "Christian" names like John

I'm sorry, I must be stupid as I don't get what you are trying to say.

So here is the problem. My given name is Norse and most defiantly pagan and when I was chrismated I took the name Seraphim. I wish I could get folks at least at the church I am member of to use it but for what ever reason they stick to the old name. As a matter of fact I was visiting my daughter up in Virginia and at the church I went to up there, the priest asked me what my name was. I gave him my chrismation name and was promptly asked, no what is your real name. Annoying. He did this in front of all of the parishioners.

Seraphim

Why don't we go one better and copy the error I made. Secretly resent Jewish people who have "Christian" names like John

I'm sorry, I must be stupid as I don't get what you are trying to say.

Seraphim

I am sorry for not being clear. I guess I was just saying we don't need to let a name become such an obstacle.

I've asked obvious converts what their "real name" is, but it's always out of curiosity & to give me one more thing to connect to them with.

How do you tell when someone is an obvious convert? I just want to compare notes. Usually I know when they come up and their name is something like "Procopius" and they aren't wearing track pants with a leather jacket. I find that a dead give away.

I've asked obvious converts what their "real name" is, but it's always out of curiosity & to give me one more thing to connect to them with.

How do you tell when someone is an obvious convert? I just want to compare notes. Usually I know when they come up and their name is something like "Procopius" and they aren't wearing track pants with a leather jacket. I find that a dead give away.

it's hard to explain. If I see an African American whose name is "Seraphim" that's a dead give away. But yah, interesting names are usually a give away no matter what the person looks like. Even greek people with the name "Barsanuphios" are suspect in my book.

Sorry, I don't really have an answer for you, but I do always say "oh common, what's your real name" which they arn't usually fans of. I'm just trying to get to know them though.

Someone is probably going to yell at me for this…but you could consider the Greek close equivalent of your name…which translates into English as "one who fights alone": Monomakhos.

Seriously don't worry over much about it. The germanic word God/Gott that we use without blinking an eye instead of Greek term Theos was in origin a generic term for demon/spirt. Consider the closely related English word giddy (original sense…a little bit possessed/out of one's normal mind)

My given name is Robert. It was once an epithet of the god Thor (means bright/shining with fame), but there is in Slovakia and neighboring Germanic coasts a St. Rupert from about AD 900 or so. Rupert/Robert same name…same origin. A name is what you make it (a rose is a rose)…fulfill the best possible meanings of the name by your life in Christ…the day may well come when you or another lone warrior are responsible for a convert in the following generation not having to ask if its a saint's name. It will be.